Another day in 2016, another iconic music star has passed, and this one might be the most shocking. Legendary singer and icon Prince passed away yesterday, April 21st, in his Minnesota home. Reports at first were a bit shifty as the general public didn’t know if this was true or not, however his publicist confirmed this later on in the day, leaving millions in mourning over the devastating news.
To me Prince, just like David Bowie, reflect a generation of gender-bending geniuses who were exactly who they wanted to be, and didn’t give a flying fuck what you think. Along with Grace Jones, Boy George, and a plethora of other artists, they broke away from the generic pop pack that swam through the 80’s and emerged victorious as unique writers and musicians who put out some of the most amazing music the industry has ever seen.
Prince exemplified that, and so much more. Everything from “Purple Rain”, which included huge hits like “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy”, to “Little Red Corvette”, “1999”, and so much more, proved what an absolute force he was to be reckoned with in and out of the industry. With 7 Grammy’s, 4 MTV Video Music Awards, and an Oscar under his belt, Prince was everything you would want in an artist when it came to stretching the creative limit in fashion, music, and all that encompasses a rock & roll star. Prince defined that, and we will truthfully never see someone like him again in the music industry, which is sad but unfortunately true given the limited amount of talent that is left in it today.
On top of being an amazing artist, he also wrote songs that became major hits for other people. My personal favorite song that he wrote was Sinead O Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”, which became a number one hit for her and is considered her signature song and one of the biggest songs of the 90’s. Other songs he wrote were Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back”, “I Feel For You” by Chaka Khan and “The Glamorous Life” by Sheila E. Proof that the Prince touch can be beneficial for many others, not just himself.
This one hits hard for me and many others, and I hope that the legacy that Prince paved in society will be remembered by generations to come.